The Fetisov Journalism Awards (FJA), a global journalism prize that recognizes reporters and editors whose work promotes accountability, justice, and positive social change, has announced a call for submissions for its 2026 competition, which is also the 8th edition of the awards.
Organised by the Fetisov Journalism Awards with the mission of promoting universal human values such as honesty, justice, courage and nobility through the example of outstanding journalists worldwide, the awards are free to enter and open to professional journalists, journalism organizations, and freelance reporters from all countries, either as individuals or as part of a team.
According to FJA General Director, Aidan White, the awards celebrate journalists whose work upholds the highest standards of quality, ethics, and truth-telling. “Our prize celebrates heroes of journalism. FJA winners set the standard for quality, ethics and truth-telling. They show that journalism can make the world a better place,” White said. He added that the awards seek to support and protect courageous journalism by providing recognition, financial support, and international visibility for impactful reporting.
Since its launch in 2019, the awards have recognized more than 200 journalists and investigators from over 100 countries for reporting that has contributed to democracy, justice, human rights, and public accountability.
Entries are invited in four categories: Investigative Journalism, Excellence in Environmental Journalism, Outstanding Contribution to Peace, and Contribution to Civil Rights. Winners will be selected by an international jury and expert panel comprising distinguished journalists, editors, and media professionals from around the world.
The competition offers a total prize fund of 520,000 Swiss Francs (CHF). In each category, three winners will share a prize pool of 130,000 CHF, with the first winner receiving 100,000 CHF, the second winner 20,000 CHF, and the third winner 10,000 CHF (inclusive of applicable taxes), and will be honoured at a gala awards ceremony scheduled to take place in Cyprus in April 2027.
The Fetisov Journalism Awards stated that submissions must be based on stories or series of stories published between June 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, in print media or on recognized media platforms. Publications must be submitted in English or accompanied by a professional English translation. Machine-generated translations will not be accepted.
Applicants should submit only one entry in one award category, whether applying individually or as part of a team. Submitted works must not exceed 15,000 words and should be uploaded as a single PDF file of no more than 10 MB. Films, videos, and audio recordings submitted as standalone works are not eligible for consideration.
Applicants are required to provide personal and professional information, including contact details, employment information, publication details, and a brief justification for the nomination. Where an application is submitted on behalf of another journalist, a signed consent letter from the author must be included. Team entries must include consent letters from all contributors.
The Fetisov Journalism Awards stated that entries will be assessed based on accuracy, independence, impartiality, humanity, transparency, ethical standards, and the impact of the reporting on society, governance, or public life.
There are no submission fees. Winners in each category will be ineligible to enter the awards again for three years following their victory, except when participating as part of a team of ten or more members.
The organization noted that self-nominations are permitted and that each author may submit only one entry in a single category.
The deadline for entries is September 15, 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Applicants can submit their entries by email by completing the application form and sending it, along with all required supporting documents, to info@fjawards.com.
For further information, contact FJA General Director, Aidan White, at +44 7946291511 or via email at contact@fjawards.com. Click here to submit your entry and read the competition rules and application procedures. To access the FAQ, click here. Questions may also be directed to info@fjawards.com.
